This Day in Wrestling History – July 26
1946 – Dave Levin defeated Kay Bell to win the Texas Heavyweight Title.
1968 – Fritz Von Erich defeated Kenji Shibuya to win NWA American Heavyweight Title.
1972 – Fred Blassie defeated Johnny Barend to win the Hawaii NWA North American Heavyweight Title.
1980 – Greg Valentine defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic United States Title. However, the title change is not recognized by WWE.
1980 – Barry Windham defeated Masa Saito to win the NWA Florida Television Title.
1980 – Cien Caras defeated Tony Benetto to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title.
1981 – Angelo Mosca defeated Mr. Fuji to win the Toronto NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title.
1984 – The Grapplers (Tony Anthony & Len Denton) defeated The Uptown Boys (Marty Jannetty & Tommy Rogers) to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Titles.
1986 – Dusty Rhodes defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Title.
1991 – The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat) defeated Billy Black & Joel Deaton to win the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles.
1994 – Bambi defeated Peggy Lee Leather to win the NWA World Women’s Title.
1998 – WWF Fully Loaded: In Your House is held in Fresno, California in front of 9,855 fans.
– Val Venis defeated Jeff Jarrett (with Tennessee Lee).
– D’Lo Brown (with The Godfather) defeated X-Pac (with Chyna).
– Faarooq & Scorpio defeated Justin Bradshaw & Terry Funk.
– Mark Henry defeated Vader.
– The Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull & 8-Ball) (with Paul Ellering) defeated LOD 2000 (Hawk & Animal).
– Owen Hart defeated Ken Shamrock in a Dungeon Match with Dan Severn as special guest referee.
– The Rock fought Triple H (with Chyna) to a time limit draw in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title.
– Jacqueline defeated Sable via DQ in a Bikini Contest (with Jerry Lawler master of ceremonies) (Sable won, but the decision was reversed the following night on Raw, due to the fact Sable was not wearing a bikini top, and had handprints painted on her chest).
– The Undertaker & Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane & Mankind (with Paul Bearer) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles.
2001 – On SmackDown, Kurt Angle defeated Booker T to win the WCW Championship.
2002 – The Lynch Mob (2 Tuff Tony & Corporal Robinson) defeated The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere) for the vacant Insane Wrestling Federation Tag Team Titles.
2002 – The WWE Hardcore Title’s 24/7 Rule sees the title pass from Bradshaw to Raven, to Justin Credible, to Shawn Stasiak, and back to Bradshaw.
2008 – ROH New Horizons is held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds & Expo Center, in Detroit. It aired on PPV on September 26.
Dark Matches:
– Ernie Osiris, Alex Payne, & Kyle Durden defeated Ninja White, Ninja Yellow, & Rocky Fontaine.
– D-Ray 3000 defeated Shane Holister.
– Silas Young defeated Kenny Omega.
PPV:
– The Briscoe Brothers (Mark & Jay) defeated Silas Young & Mitch Franklin.
– Erick Stevens defeated Delirious, Ruckus, & Shane Hagadorn in a 4-Corner Survival Match.
– Kevin Steen defeated Necro Butcher in a No Disqualification Match.
– Nigel McGuinness defeated Claudio Castagnoli to retain the ROH World Title.
– Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Chris Hero & Go Shiozaki (with Larry Sweeney).
– Bryan Danielson defeated Tyler Black.
Dark Main Event:
– Ruckus won the Honor Rumble Match. Defeating: Kyle Durden, Bushwhacker Luke, Bobby Dempsey, Erick Stevens, Jay Briscoe, Necro Butcher, Claudio Castagnoli, Mark Briscoe, Rhett Titus, Ernie Osiris, Delirious, Nigel McGuinness, Alex Payne, & Sara Del Rey.
2009 – WWE Night Of Champions is in Philadelphia in front of 17,774 fans.
Dark Match:
– Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard & JTG) defeated The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith).
PPV:
– Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho & The Big Show) defeated The Legacy (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Jr.) to retain the WWE Unified Tag Team Titles.
– Christian defeated Tommy Dreamer to win the ECW Title.
– Kofi Kingston defeated MVP, The Miz, Carlito, Jack Swagger, and Primo in a Six-Pack Challenge Match, to retain the WWE United States Title.
– Michelle McCool defeated Melina to retain the WWE Women’s Title.
– Randy Orton defeated Triple H and John Cena in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Title.
– Mickie James defeated Maryse to win the WWE Divas Title.
– Rey Mysterio defeated Dolph Ziggler (with Maria) to retain the WWE Intercontinental Title.
– Jeff Hardy defeated CM Punk to win the World Heavyweight Title.
2012 – Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal in a tournament final, to become the inaugural NXT Champion (aired on tape delay August 29).
2019 – On Impact, Jake Crist defeated Rich Swann to win the X-Division Title.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to 4-time USWA Heavyweight Champion Tommy “Wildfire” Rich (66), ROH Triple Crown Champion & NXT North American, Cruiserweight and Tag Team Champion Roderick Strong (39), indie wrestler Marty Scurll (34), and former Impact World & Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard (27).
Also, today would have been the birthday of former ECW Tag and Television Champion ‘Pitbull #2′ Anthony Durante.
